Headlight questions
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So after trolling around the forums for quite the while, I think I've come to a few conclusions and questions about the headlight housing. Please correct me when I'm wrong.
I have an IS250 with factory HIDs.
Now, my questions are primarily about the DRL.
Also, it's not the headlight, but for fog lights, I've been thinking of swapping to HIDs. Then looking at either the v-leds or the ijdmtoys website, they also mentioned LED! Same question of how well the spread is.
Thanks in advance to anyone and everyone's input :]
I have an IS250 with factory HIDs.
The headlight housing consists of 3 swappable bulbs: the HID bulb, the DRL, which is also the hi-beams at full power, and the small parking light in the corner of the spot where the hi-beams are.
To change the HID to a different color, one would just simply buy a new D4S bulb, rather than buying a whole kit.
The DRL/hi-beams can be changed out for either another halogen (nokya and luminous come to mind) or into LED with a module.
The parking light is easily changed into an LED light, and various guides(that i'm too lazy to dig out) show the quality difference between different LEDs.
Under stock conditions, only the DRLs light up during the day, whereas when night falls, the HIDs are the ones on, along with the parking light. fog lights also turn on only when the low beams are on.
To change the HID to a different color, one would just simply buy a new D4S bulb, rather than buying a whole kit.
The DRL/hi-beams can be changed out for either another halogen (nokya and luminous come to mind) or into LED with a module.
The parking light is easily changed into an LED light, and various guides(that i'm too lazy to dig out) show the quality difference between different LEDs.
Under stock conditions, only the DRLs light up during the day, whereas when night falls, the HIDs are the ones on, along with the parking light. fog lights also turn on only when the low beams are on.
Halogens are the easiest to use, but I've read that many people change theirs into LEDs, and with the use of the module it eliminates flickering. The LEDs are also running at full power at all times, so there is no difference between DRL and hi beam modes?
How good would the output be of the high beams, as compared to stock? LEDs are bright, but don't really spread their light well, as noted from the LED parking light guide.
What would happen if one swapped the halogen to HID? Would it actually work, or would there be any consequences?
How good would the output be of the high beams, as compared to stock? LEDs are bright, but don't really spread their light well, as noted from the LED parking light guide.
What would happen if one swapped the halogen to HID? Would it actually work, or would there be any consequences?
Thanks in advance to anyone and everyone's input :]
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My own general rule for 2IS's
DRL - Swap for LED w/o the module. The flickering is very mesmerizing from a distance. I remember when i first spoted them i knew i had to have them.
HID blub - Stock 4300k is pathetic. Should be swapped out for a 6000k, any higher would be tacky.
Fog Lights - I am a big fan of yellow. So i replaced mine with yellow bulbs. HID's in fog lights are very very tacky and ruin the flow of the IS.
DRL - Swap for LED w/o the module. The flickering is very mesmerizing from a distance. I remember when i first spoted them i knew i had to have them.
HID blub - Stock 4300k is pathetic. Should be swapped out for a 6000k, any higher would be tacky.
Fog Lights - I am a big fan of yellow. So i replaced mine with yellow bulbs. HID's in fog lights are very very tacky and ruin the flow of the IS.
Last edited by IS2FINE; 03-08-11 at 11:21 AM.
#3
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LED in your DRL would make the DRL look "better" but make the light output utterly useless as a highbeam. Swapping the DRL/highbeam for HIDs would have the problem that you can't run an HID at "partial power" for the DRL function, and your flash-to-pass usage would be bad for the HID as well since turning HIDs on/off quickly is bad for em.
I addressed this by simply having my DRLs turned off and keeping the normal high beams.
The stock low beam HIDs are 4300k. Which produces the most useful light output possible. Anything higher might look "better" in some folks views but will produce less useful light to see by.
I addressed this by simply having my DRLs turned off and keeping the normal high beams.
The stock low beam HIDs are 4300k. Which produces the most useful light output possible. Anything higher might look "better" in some folks views but will produce less useful light to see by.
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^^^ I thought HIDs without a projecter were illegal
. The DRL/High beam portion of our cars are only reflective (no projector) right? So HIDs would not be an option at all even if we could address the partial power for DRLs.
To the OP, Welcome! I agree that 5000k or 6000k is a much better temperature color for HID low beams. And as far as fogs, I like them yellow. I don't really have a preference for how this color is achieved (either yellow halogen bulb or a 3000k HID).
Any pics of the car to share with the rest of us?
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
To the OP, Welcome! I agree that 5000k or 6000k is a much better temperature color for HID low beams. And as far as fogs, I like them yellow. I don't really have a preference for how this color is achieved (either yellow halogen bulb or a 3000k HID).
Any pics of the car to share with the rest of us?
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^^^ I thought HIDs without a projecter were illegal
. The DRL/High beam portion of our cars are only reflective (no projector) right? So HIDs would not be an option at all even if we could address the partial power for DRLs.
To the OP, Welcome! I agree that 5000k or 6000k is a much better temperature color for HID low beams. And as far as fogs, I like them yellow. I don't really have a preference for how this color is achieved (either yellow halogen bulb or a 3000k HID).
Any pics of the car to share with the rest of us?
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
To the OP, Welcome! I agree that 5000k or 6000k is a much better temperature color for HID low beams. And as far as fogs, I like them yellow. I don't really have a preference for how this color is achieved (either yellow halogen bulb or a 3000k HID).
Any pics of the car to share with the rest of us?
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![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
I could definitely be wrong, I am by no means an expert in this area, it's just what I thought.
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#8
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What would happen if one swapped the halogen to HID? Would it actually work, or would there be any consequences?
Also, it's not the headlight, but for fog lights, I've been thinking of swapping to HIDs. Then looking at either the v-leds or the ijdmtoys website, they also mentioned LED! Same question of how well the spread is.
Also, it's not the headlight, but for fog lights, I've been thinking of swapping to HIDs. Then looking at either the v-leds or the ijdmtoys website, they also mentioned LED! Same question of how well the spread is.
#9
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This is not true. The OEM (Philips) D4S HID bulbs are 4100K in color. Proof: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...d4s20sheet.pdf The confusion comes from aftermarket "OEM Replacement" bulbs that are usually 4300K in color.
I'm sure most states have some kind of law saying that you can't have excessive glare/blinding light, no matter what the type of housing the HIDs (or halogens for that matter) are in. The fogs are also in reflective housings and 99% of people that add HIDs to them don't retro in projectors, but of course they're lower to the ground so are less of an issue.
Looks. A lot of people want their DRLs to match the color of their low beams, others make them even more yellow than stock. Yellow fogs are a "JDM" thing. It's also a feature commonly associated with Lexuses since some of the older models came stock with yellow fogs (e.g. the IS300).
Looks. A lot of people want their DRLs to match the color of their low beams, others make them even more yellow than stock. Yellow fogs are a "JDM" thing. It's also a feature commonly associated with Lexuses since some of the older models came stock with yellow fogs (e.g. the IS300).
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what's a good yellow drl to go with?
and as far as the fogs go, do u need yellow bulbs and the yellow film for the best look....or would just the film be adequate?
and as far as the fogs go, do u need yellow bulbs and the yellow film for the best look....or would just the film be adequate?
#11
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^ Here's a yellow DRL example: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...llow-drls.html
Personally, I think yellow HID fogs with a clear, OEM lens look best. Not a fan of yellow film, although it does work. Just depends what you like.
Personally, I think yellow HID fogs with a clear, OEM lens look best. Not a fan of yellow film, although it does work. Just depends what you like.
#12
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i would not use LEDs for fogs unless you don't care about the functionality and only using the fogs for looks. These aftermarket LEDs are mainly for looks. The amount of light they project forward is very limited, and this would effectively make your fogs useless. Stick with either halogen or get an HID kit instead.
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Thanks guys, especially Kurtz and brociouz. That was all the info I wanted and more. I've decided that for myself, I'd rather keep things practical and go with halogen DRLs.
My car is your average 07 SGM IS250. Only thing I've done so far is tint and interior lights. As the TX season warms up, I'll give the car a proper wash and then post up pics![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Yellow DRLs are actually quite tempting from that link too.... perhaps 6000k low, luminics yellow halogens for high, and 3000k hid kit for the fogs, and a good 600k LED for the parking light.
My car is your average 07 SGM IS250. Only thing I've done so far is tint and interior lights. As the TX season warms up, I'll give the car a proper wash and then post up pics
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Yellow DRLs are actually quite tempting from that link too.... perhaps 6000k low, luminics yellow halogens for high, and 3000k hid kit for the fogs, and a good 600k LED for the parking light.
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